The Walkup team negotiated a confidential settlement on behalf of a minor who suffered burn injuries to her scalp after undergoing bleach treatments at a neighborhood salon. The chemical burns produced by the treatment were full-thickness and the resulting scars will require future surgical revision. The defendant disputed liability, claiming the plaintiff had a rare and unpredictable allergic reaction for which it could not be held responsible.
Deposition testimony established that the salon failed to follow industry practices in guarding the skin when applying caustic chemicals and failed to react promptly once the plaintiff complained of pain. The settlement was approved by the Superior Court with a portion of the proceeds dedicated to multiple single-premium deferred annuities. The structured settlement will provide a combination of lump-sum, annual and monthly payments in excess of $2 million over the course of the plaintiff’s lifetime.
